Top 5 Banned Books in America

It is my personal belief that some of the best books ever written are banned. The books that capture our souls and ignite our senses are typically the ones that challenge the minds. They stretch us and make us look at ourselves, typically people don’t like what they see. It is always the people who are most secure in their world, or think that they are, that challenge these books. Here’s my list of the best books ever banned.

1. The Outsiders by S.E. HintonSynopsis: It is a coming of age story about Ponyboy and the Greasers Gang.Reason for being banned: Apparently the thought that teenagers swear, join gangs (let’s face it they were about as scary as the gangs on West Side Story), and smoke is so alarming that the books have been challenged over and over again. My son is currently reading this book in school and I am completely jealous. I had a very non-fictional crush on the very fictional Ponyboy!

2. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George OrwellSynopsis: An intelligent man falls in love, challenges the leaders of his world, is tortured, imprisoned, and re-educated.Reason for being banned: Well, I would think most governments would want to ban this book. It pretty much sells them all out. Surveillance, Censorship, Futurology, and Nationalism. There are some scary topics that are discussed and often times people read it and think “Hey, that’s pretty familiar”.

3. The Harry Potter Series by JK RowlingSynopsis: An abused orphan finds out he’s the chosen one, meets some friends, has some crushes, and eventually fights evil.Reason for being banned: Now I could give the reason that I think but that would just be opinion. American Christian groups that the magic in the books promotes Wicca and witchcraft among children. It is my personal belief that if your child reads these books and wants to start worshipping Satan. You need to commit them, not take a book away.

4. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. SalingerSynopsis: Teenage angst at its height.Reason for being banned: Between 1961 and 1982, The Catcher in the Rye was the most censored book in high schools and libraries in the United States. In 1981 it was both the most censored book and the second most taught book in public schools in the United States. According to the American Library Association, The Catcher in the Rye was the tenth most frequently challenged book from 1990 to 1999. It was one of the ten most challenged books of 2005 and although it had been off the list for three years, it reappeared in the list of most challenged books of 2009. The challenges generally begin with Holden’s frequent use of vulgar language, with other reasons including sexual references, blasphemy, undermining of family values and moral codes, Holden’s being a poor role model, encouragement of rebellion, and promotion of drinking, smoking, lying, and promiscuity.

5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark TwainSynopsis: A coming of age story about a boy in Missouri.Reason for being banned: Originally, it was banned because of deplorable language. Apparently the humor wasn’t at all appropriate for women to read. Today, it is banned mainly because of its treatment of racism.

After reading the entire list of the most banned books in America, I have come to the conclusion that we are one of the prudest countries in the world. Most of these books deal with sex. God for bid we’d actually learn about that. Also, I would just like to point out that not everyone in America is Christian. Why then do most of these banned books somehow offend Christians? I just don’t get it. I was seriously morally opposed to my son reading a certain book in fourth grade. Do you know what I did? I told the teacher and she assigned another book for him to read. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. Just a thought!